Searching for a new word to replace diet. Minor annoyance but don't like using that which refers to my daily food intake as well as a food regime of reduced calories. I do want to lose weight but want to develop a daily, ongoing healthy "diet". I want a daily "diet" that I enjoy and supplies all the nutrition I need. So I want a word that immediately explains to the listener what is going on!Does this make sense to anyone?

This is by far and away the best, most beneficial thread I have found after being on SP for more than 4 years. I have learned so much! I owe the person who started it and all those who have contributed a huge vote of gratitude. The variety of thoughts are all so great as each has good but different ideas for me to think about. A lot are based on personal experience so already tested.That variety is critical as most are not the same-old/same-old that get boring so quickly. After muddling along but not really doing anything, this thread is a big part of the answer for me. As it looks like my goal is to adapt a lifelong healthy life style and not a fixed term diet and exercise program I certainly need new ideas continuously to keep me going over the long haul.Thanks so very much to all who have contributed to this. I have been fooling myself that reading SP is a positive effort for a healthy life but ignoring the fact there is no action other than reading interesting things. This blog has changed that and given a foundation for action.

This thread is great. I've gathered several ideas. While it may seem "childish" (who cares anyway what is seems to be if it works), I may start giving myself gold stars if I don't exceed my evening snack. The evening after my dinner is my WEAK zone. My evening snack is usually green tea, or PG Tips tea with milk, and one cookie or half a graham cracker, or 2 squares of dark chocolate. Also, going shopping in new places is a great idea or even RE-shopping (taking longer to look over choices) at your regular store. My town only has two grocery stores, one being Wal-Mart. Wallie World sometimes gets in new things, but I hate to shop there so I usually dash in and dash out, with list in hand. The other day, I decided to leisurely "look around." I found out they had a new yogurt for our area (not all WM's carry the same selection). It is FAGO yogurt. I bought two plain cups. It is out of sight, and SO rich I used it as sour cream on tacos. I mixed half a container with canned lite apricots and it was great. I also discovered some new lower carb, higher protein whole wheat tortillas. Dashing in and out I never would have discovered those.

Maybe trying trying something new to your weight loss plan can help you out. Their are many different weigh loss challenges that actually pay you to lose weight. What's a bigger motivator than that? www.healthywage.com

Good commentary CSROBERTSON621. I think that what you wrote is sort of what I experienced, not in one moment, but over a few days, i.e. days in a row of sandwiches without any mayo and sometimes no bread (LOL) (getting to be a habit though), toast with hardly any butter (also slowly getting there), and rarely touching the salt shaker. The thought was "how much longer can I keep this up." Well, obviously, I can only keep it up ONE day at a time, because I can't keep it up for a day that hasn't even arrived yet! What is helpful to me as well, in fact very much so, is to look at my weight loss record, starting at the very beginning, and then scrolling step by step to the present. That can confirm how much shorter the total road has become, than it was when you first started out on it. Of course, staying on the road of good nutrition and healthy weight control needs to become a lifetime road. "Dieting" is a path back to that, and probably it would be better to eliminate the term and think of it all as one road.

You're at a tough spot in your weight loss journey -- you've made a big change so far (50 pounds is a BIG DEAL!), but from your perspective, you've still got a long way to go to get to your goal.

Those of us with large amounts of weight to lose probably all have at least some moments like this on their weight loss journey -- I know I did. I remember having lost about 50 pounds and sitting at my kitchen table eating yet another (barely dressed) salad, and wondering where I was going to find the willpower to get the rest of the way to my goal -- it seemed SO far away, and it seemed to take so long to lose the pounds. I didn't actually have an a-ha moment -- at least not then. I just decided to take it one day at a time -- be good today, and let tomorrow take care of itself. In time, I was back in my groove, but that was definitely a rough patch that nearly derailed me entirely. Ultimately, I think it helped to keep reminding myself that it was a long journey, and I'd come WAY too far to turn back. It was at least enough to convince me to "fake it 'til I make it."

You're doing exactly the right thing -- you've recognized that you're struggling, and you've come here seeking help and inspiration. Until you get your inspiration and are ready to re-commit fully to getting to goal, you can still control your actions right now, to at least protect all the hard work you've done so far -- so can you commit to just one day at a time of sticking to your plan, until you're feeling steady again?

Also, you may try joining one of the communities just for folks losing 100+ pounds -- it is a special kind of challenge to have to sustain a weight loss effort for so long before getting to goal, and it's helpful to have a group of people who totally get what you're going through and who are all reaching for the same goal.

Whatever you do, don't let anyone tell you this can't be done long term. It takes work, and it does take willingness to make a permanent change. It can seem overwhelming (especially from where you're sitting right now), but you CAN do this, one day at a time.

Make sure that you are getting enough sleep. Maybe this is just a lack of motivation issue, but I always find it almost impossible to stick to healthy habits if I'm not getting a full night's sleep. I often first notice how difficult it is to motivate myself, and then I remember that I've been staying up late.

Thanks for your comment, TRIATHLETEGIRL. Between my WW rebellion and joining SP, I was "off" for about a few days and had picked my SP start day a few days down the road to give myself a break. One night I ate a pile of buffalo wings, some beer and cookies. I felt like total crud the next day (physically!), bloated, ill feeling and sluggish, so I started SP right away instead of continuing on break time.

Swampsparrow, I think you brought up a really good point! One that I haven't thought of in this respect for a long time. I was on the 'diet' wagon for a long time and my mind was craving all kinds of fattening junk foods. I couldn't get the thoughts out of my mind. So I bought and ate an entire box of Cheez Its. They didn't taste half as good as my brain was telling me they would, and I was bloated and constipated for a few days and generally didn't feel really good. I was glad to eat salads and my other healthy staples for a while after that. Thanks for the tip!

I don't know if anyone said this, and I hope people don't pounce on me, BUT instead of going through the motions BUT not really sticking with it AND as a consequence beating up on yourself, tell yourself officially, "I'm taking a break from this, and do it." Observe yourself and see IF you really feel "good" about reverting to an unhealthy path for a few days. I wager you will not. You probably won't "like yourself" being off and off and will see that being "on" is the better path.

There is, or can be, quite a bit of "tedium" in having to stick to a long haul weight loss program. My SP stats don't reflect it, but before signing on here I lost 30 pounds on WW, and after getting there I noticed myself rebelling, even though I still had about 25 to go. I think a small part of the rebelling was WW itself, the artificial point system and the 18.99/month, but the other part was that I just was just fatigued with "being on a program." When I GOOGLED about people who had become unhappy on weight loss programs, I discovered SparkPeople.

JWOOLMAN, I think that's a good idea. That has been my approach to weight loss, not necessarily intentionally -- lose some, hold, lose some, hold. It's better than losing and gaining it back. If long-term weight loss and not gaining it back is the goal, a plateau can be seen as an interlude to adapt and maintain. Then press on when your body is ready to go. I know that may not be comforting to someone who just desperately wants the scale to go down, but sometimes the body just goes at its own pace.

Maybe you just need to maintain your current weight for a while? Your body might need a rest from losing weight, time to adjust. Maybe focus on light/moderate exercise for general health for the duration. Camping out on a plateau isn't necessarily a bad thing. If you aim for healthy food and exercise but no deficit deliberately, you'll probably know when you're ready to break up camp and move onward to continue losing weight. You might need slower weight loss than before.

Hi there, boy can I relate. It is hard to stay motivated especially for long periods of time. I think that it is very normal to lose interest or even develop distaste for projects that take an extremely long time These things can tend to get on your nerve. However, sometimes you need to take a step back to develop a different perspective. So I have two suggestions, the first is to view your lack of motivation as a "vacation" so to speak, now I am not advocating that you stop what is working just view it as a chance to practice "maintenance" - sort of this is how I will behave when I have lost all the weight and use that attitude until you feel that you want to see the scale move again. Another way to think of it is as if it is a daily chore, you get up everyday and brush your teeth, not because you see them suddenly whiter and glimmering but because you know what happens if you don't. Sort of like dusting the furniture, this is why we must learn to consider this a lifestyle change and not a race - the goal is to stay participating not how quickly we get there.

Don't know if this will help or not. I was unhappy with my weight every day but just couldn't seem to get the motivation, the energy to do anything about it - seems like it was just more work.

Then I realized it was the same amount of work worry and fretting about my weight every day as doing something about it. So then I realized I can exercise and eat better and feel happier, or I can feel bad - doing the same amount of work and worry. No I don't stress or get depressed when I stray from eating properly or miss and exercise - it's all good

I just get right back on track - it's the same work and worry - so I decided I want to be fit and happy.

Such great tips, just what I was needing. I have lost a total of 55 lbs and still have 25 more to go. My motivation has been wavering, the pounds are coming off much more slowly now and I am feeling a bit discouraged. I too have been dipping into foods that trigger binges and while I have not gone completely overboard I am not doing the things that will bring me success. I am getting compliments and am feeling pretty good about how I am looking these days and so I wonder if I have gotten a bit complacent. I also have been under some stress and have had some recent disappointments leaving me feeling quite down. This can trigger binge eating for me and so I am working towards being kind to myself and doing things that give me pleasure other than eating. Keeping on track with exercise is helping keep the depression and low moods at bay. The only suggestions I can add is to find exercise that is fun and makes you feel good and think about making small manageable goals.

Good luck, be kind to yourself, set small goals and try to make it fun!

"It's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." - Abe Lincoln

Thanks everybody for the tips. This isn't my topic but I sure learned a lot from all of you. I have so much weight to lose it seems impossible. I love the small goals idea. My new goal is 5 pounds. After I reach that, I'll set a new goal.

Wow this board is full of all sorts of great ideas! I'm glad I spent the few minutes to peruse through it. For me, it is all about setting small goals, 5 pound goals for instance, 7 day challenges, etc. That and I have a fitbit challenge going with some friends of mine -- which is motivating me to try and "outstep" each of them.

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass -- it's about learning to dance in the rain."

"The real competition isn't between you and other people. It's between you and that little voice that wants to quit."

When I went for a few weeks without a loss, I tried to tell myself that I was in this for the long-term healthy changes, like portion control and daily exercise. As long as I was making healthy choices, I tried to be happy with myself and my new lifestyle. The weight did eventually start coming off again, and I learned a much-needed lesson on patience. Good luck, and keep with it. It'll all be worth it!

One suggestion I didn't see was getting checked for depression. I manage my own depression by exercise, but occasionally even that is not enough. When the depression starts knocking at my door, I know it because I don't feel like doing anything: exercise or any other of my normal hobbies that I normally enjoy. That could be the possibility for many other people, not just me.Also, what REALLY helps me stay on track is making a 'goal chart'. I use an old wall calendar and check off days that I succeed in my behavioral changes, and if the week is good, I get a gold star. When I get a gold star, I get a prize. Like a fancy new razor, or a new gardening tool (trowels always seem to get lost), or something useful that is not too expensive. I kept cheating on my diet to the point where I derailed my progress, so I made a new goal chart for the month of June that has several check boxes. If I make it until 2pm without binging, I get a check. If I make it until 4pm, 6pm, and 10pm I get checks. So I guess I've broken down the day into many mini-goals, which is more motivating. I always tell myself how awesome I am each time I check off that little hour box! I get a gold star if I succeed in checking off all the daily boxes, and when I get 7 gold stars I get the prize. I understand this is a childish technique and many people might think, "well that's dumb!" but it totally works for me.

I watched Joy Bauer's program on PBS this past weekend, and am adding some ideas from her Weight Loss Tips to my program for a couple weeks to see what happens. It makes total sense and the non-starchy veggies - in those large quantities, keep you full. I have had no cravings as the blood sugar is stable.a) No starchy veggies at dinner.b) 2 C non-starchy veggies at lunch and again at dinner.c) 2 glasses of water before each meal.d) No empty liquid calories: Skipping soda or high energy drinks, and limit fruit juice to 1 per day diluted with half water, or eliminate entirely. * Coffee or water are fine as is seltzer or plain water.

*For me that's a tiny bit of lemonade or lemon juice in my ice tea.

I can't drink milk so no issues there but will limit the soy, coconut and almond milk drinks to 1 at breakfast and 1 at lunch or have as snacks.

Don't have her books or see what else she has to offer but being a nutritionist, this seems to make good sense. I mean we all know to eat more fresh produce but I had recently been thinking back to my WW days and wondering about whether to start counting the starchy veggies again. The quantities here give me a target to shoot at for getting enough volume to keep me satisfied while still cutting back at dinner.

Lean protein and double the veggies at supper worked for me the first three days so I am back on track with calories, too. Anyone want to join me? Great if you are at a plateau.

I love your attitude! This is what keeps me going too. Not the journey as so many people say, but the destination... What i want to be able to do after I lose weight....

For me, I am a seamstress / designer. I want to make clothes, matching outfits for my daughter and I, but not in the current size I am.... I want to look amazing in my own creations, and be able to go out to the beach too...

If you're on Pinterest, create several different boards with things you'd like to do - whether they're activities that you can't currently do, clothes you can't currently wear, etc. I have a big event coming up next February and I've already pinned a lot of long black dresses that I would love to be able to wear to a hidden board that only I can see. Whenever I go back and look at my motivational boards with all of these awesome pins, it gets me even more motivated. I also have a style board where I pin a lot of cute outfits I would love to wear and will be able to when I get clsoer to my goal. You can make these boards private so no one but you sees them!

Also, see if there is a farm co-op that you can get your fresh produce and meats from. Some offer "farmer's choice" bags which they select the produce items and you receive them - you get to try out some pretty fantastic veggies and fruits that way that helps you to come up with recipes that you may have never tried! I personally don't get the farmers choice bags, but pick and choose what I want. I feel great knowing that my kids and I are eating healthier, with no chemicals, hormones, antibiotics in our produce/meats, and it's always completely fresh for whatever is in season!

For me, setting smaller goals has helped. I reset my goal to a weight that seemed more realistic than my original goal, and that has really helped motivate me to get back on track again. Doesn't mean I won't ever reach my original goal, but the goal I'm working toward now is one I can easily see in front of me, while my original one seemed really far off.

And just focusing on trying to reach small daily goals that will help you reach your bigger goal can also help: walking a certain number of steps, holding to your calorie limit for the day, etc. Those are things you can control right now, even if the bigger goal seems far away.

I've done the roller-coaster thing but I feel like this time I've figured out what didn't work before.One suggestion I didn't see was to try a new GROCERY STORE. Chances are you do most if not all of your shopping at the same store. Try going out of your way to hit another store; the variety may make you realize some choices that you hadn't considered before. It's especially great if you have a health-centric store like Whole Foods, Sprouts, AJ's, Fresh & Easy or something similar. Even a farmers' market can be refreshing. Making that change may put you back on the track both motivationally and via the scale.You may also want to try new restaurants; do you have a vegetarian restaurant nearby? Some Mediterranean or Persian restaurants specialize in vegetarian food; while it's not necessarily low calorie you can break up your routine and get some great ideas at the same time.I echo others who said DON'T stop measuring--yourself or your foods. It's too easy to slip and then feel guilty (which you don't deserve to do to yourself!) if you don't know where you are.Good luck! You can do this!

I too seem to have reached some kind of plateau. I have lost 20 pounds but I need to lose more. I know I will get back in the groove, I think I just need to change some things up. I did start eating differently and I am going to start walking outside more.

I know with the help of everyone on SP I will lose more weight. The support here is unbelievable and I truly appreciate any and all help I get from others. Thanks

TBOURLON - excellent points. I heard someone say once that they don't wait for motivation to exercise, just like they don't wait for motivation to take a shower. It's just something you do. It's part of life. I think a person just needs motivation long enough for healthy habits to become entrenched, then doing the right thing is easy, just like buckling a seatbelt or brushing your teeth. It's just what you do.

Motivation is often fleeting. My favorite goal has been to buy something that doesn't quite fit that I really like. I feel so excited when I fit into it! Even if you're not fully motivated, I would focus on the small things. Instead of 2 cookies, eat one. Remind yourself of where you want to be. It's a long road. For me, it took a long time to put on the weight. I'm hoping to take it off a little quicker. :)

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were going to live forever.

I have found it easier to pass on sweets when I'm full and lately have cut back on white bread and pasta. I have increased my protein which helps a lot. I eat fruit after my lunch and feeling full don't feel the need to snack the rest of the afternoon. I don't deprive myself and enjoy a planned snack at night of 1 cookie with tea or a Kashi bar or Greek yogurt. The scale has finally started to move down again after I've lost the same 2 lbs over and over again for the last year. The key for me is moderation, not deprivation. Wknds are a little different but I try and keep white carbs as low as possible. Food cravings are practically gone and I feel such relief from constantly wanting to eat "SOMETHING" and not knowing what is was. I feel more at peace with food than I have in a long time. Plus my jeans are fitting a little better (LOL) so life is good.

I love the points that you make because everyday there are decisions to be made. For me I just think about all the excuses that I have made this far and reflect on how I felt making those decisions that were not helping me. It keeps me motivated to think things through and weighing the pros and cons. I make a decision everyday to make the best of everyday and not let anyone else determine how my day goes. This has been working for me since I decided this was the way I was going to be 2 months ago. Sometimes it takes you to sit and be with yourself and stand in your truth, admitting things you may not want to admit in order for a breakthrough to happen. Remember, you are equipped to be in charge of you, you just need to know that it is okay for you to do so. We are here to support anytime you need it:).

Just because I don't 'look' like a runner, doesn't mean that I am not one! Don't judge me...that is all:)

I have all kinds of motivation - but I don't find it works nearly as well as being consistent and determined. I get up every morning and fight traffic to get to work every morning, not because I'm "motivated" but because it's something I need to do to survive. Eating right & exercising is the same thing, I do it to survive. I won't lie, I would LOVE to get back into my favorite summer pants, now that is a realistic goal but by itself is not enough. Motivation is fleeting, but habits are with you always. Personally I hate to track food, it's such a pain, but I'm pretty good at planning. Plan what I'll eat for the week, make the grocery list, schedule what meal on what night, etc. It works, it keeps the weight down and the health up. If you're not gaining back the 50 lbs you've lost, then you must be doing SOMETHING right!

Keeping the weight off is a big issue for me also. I take it off and put it back on every time. For me a struggle with family parties that have so much food and alcoholic beverages that I hardly know when I have eaten over my calories for the day. We have a party to go to every weekend it seems and what I have taken off the week prior just seems to be back after the weekends. I have to find a way to keep myself in check while I am at these parties. If anyone has any good ideas please pass them on. I am struggling to take off the last 14 lbs.

I lost 30 pounds last summer only to regain 15 during the winter. I'm SO frustrated with myself. I'm trying to get back on the wagon but as some one who HATES veggies it's a real challenge for me to eat right. I also work nights which adds another layer of challenge secondary to exhaustion. I'm not making excuses for myself at all here....just venting that I've lost my mojo and am trying to get it back!

We all go through periods like this when we're tired of working on it. I was on a diet for about 2 years, then rebelled, gained 30 pounds, came to my senses, lost the 30 again, and am now working on the last 25 or so. I don't necessarily recommend this path, but I do understand the temporary lack of motivation.

I would take all the advice below, except possibly cutting out coffee. (Why? Unless you're seriously addicted, like drinking it all day long.) You do need to exercise or weight loss will really stall. Nothing is as motivating as a little more success. I would exercise (there's where you really need to force yourself), find some new recipes, find some new support, and remember why you wanted to do this in the first place. In my case, it was fear of premature debility and death and disease. We're rooting for you. Don't give up!

try new recipes! they help me when I start to find I am in a rut. I also like to journal. LiveJournal is great for me and the blogging here on SparkPeople helps to. When you find it gets tough simply remind yourself of all the good that a healthy lifestyle has given you.

Pain is temporary, Quitting lasts forever

Life is Change. Death is Dwelling on the Past, or Staying in one place to Long.

I am stuck right now . I lost 28 lbr. It took me a long time , about 4 years, not easy but at least stayed motivated I could feel it in every way. I guess I wanted to weigh may be, 110 lbr.I am 76 years old and only 5"1, my children say I shouldn't try to lose any more but lately I am having a very hard time staying in my diet, I succumb to cravings and that is the bad part.I think even if I don't lose weight it's ok as long as I stay with my healthy meals I learn to like. happy Memorial day

I started a month ago , but I didn't go nowhere. Why? I am finding everything I do tiresome and very difficult. I am trying to continue and get somewhere with my fight for a better life. My health has been going down in the last 5 years. I am 73 and recently I am experiencing quite a bit of pain with this injury of a sciatic nerve. Of course that has nothing to do with my continued to eat things are not beneficial for me. I believe depression is the cause of wanting more sweets, is my weakne

want to let everyone who responded to this has really given great advice and i enjoyed reading each one. it helps me help myself and know i am not the only one that can use motivation. your ideas and plans are helpful. thanks again for all your comments.great job.

If you are losing to be healthy, would a trip to the hospital or a convalescent facility make you realize how lucky you are to be in charge of your own destiny? You'' see plenty of people who didn't heed the warnings. If that won't do, maybe read the obits and see how many individuals die too young, or go walk at the cemetery. That makes me feel like I'm not ready to be there yet.

None of those are motivation - that comes from within - but it might be enough to get you to keep going thru the motions with just a bit more enthusiasm. If exercise is a problem get a headset and listen to some music. Marching bands are a good cadence for getting your heart rate up while walking. Take up something you think is fun - go bowling or get a hula hoop.Find a friend who will make a commitment to meet you at a set time and place to work out together. Or go to the local animal shelter and borrow a dog that might need walking.

If you are losing to look good, then go through the fashion magazines or catalogues and find something you'd like to wear and post it up in your home with your picture pasted on it. Don't forget to buy yourself something new now & then so you see the results you've been making. Others who don't see us often get a better perspective than we do since the change is gradual and we might not see the little improvements. Are you moving better? Can you do things you couldn't before? Get out and explore those options now.

I agree with what's been said already about the food part. I just finished setting up some meal plans for the week so that I stay on target. I build in my sweets which are mostly fruits but although I prefer to stay away from artificial sweeteners, if diet Jello will help me get to goal then I'm going to have it. I have a smoothie for breakfast, then a late AM snack, lunch, a PM snack at work, dinner and dessert sometime before bed. I eat a wide variety of foods. That way I don't get bored.

Is variety a problem? Maybe you are tired of feeling deprived. Check out some recipes or flip thru cookbooks. Figure out substitutions to some of your favorites that you might be skipping and missing more that you realize. Try new foods - your taste buds are probably changing and you might find some dishes that you didn't expect to like are now satisfying.

And if the opposite is true - you are tired of focusing on food, then look back to when you were losing readily and copy those menu plan days. You won't have to work so hard to prepare things that are already known to you, and you can do something else instead with that extra few minutes of time.

Try some mindful meditation for 15 minutes a day - it will distress you, and perhaps lead to that happy place inside where you will again find motivation to do what's good for you.

I understand that it's easier said than done, but sugar is possibly our biggest evil. It is addictive and difficult to stop at just a little. I too had a sugar addiction, lots of sweets and chocolate and particular sugary soft drinks. I was drinking up to 2 litres of coke a day. In this instance I have had to treat myself like an alcoholic - it is an addiction and I just do not have any.

However, I also believe that having no little sweets will feed the feelings of deprivation and eventually you will break out. So I have a little chocolate and a small dessert.

I too have snacks throughout the day that I have carefully added to a well constructed diet. This staves off hunger from not having the required nutrients and prevents the cravings.

You also say that you are not really exercising. This might be the biggest problem. I have found that I eat less and crave less when I am exercising regularly. You can start small. Go for a walk - 30 minutes is enough to start. I use Walk away the ponds and you can do 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes and so on. After all 15 minutes is better than nothing. Start small and build up when you are ready. Its easier to talk yourself into 15 minutes when you feel tired and lethargic and often once you are up and going you feel like you can do 30 minutes. Sometimes when I really feel like I'm just too tired at the end of the day and I am already sitting back in my armchair I pick up my hand weights and start by doing some arm exercises while sitting in the chair - eventually I stand up and do the rest of my weight training.

Sometimes it is all in our psyche. We have to look at far we have come and what our ultimate goal is. We have to consider our reasons for being on this journey and the benefits of our weightless and better health. I have lost 16 kg so far and I know how much better and healthier I feel and how much the exercise ids improving movement, aches and pains and so much more. How much better will I feel when I lose enough to be just overweight and eventually be a health weight. You have already done so well, do a bit of self talk, put up some positive notes to your self. I know you can do it and get back on track.

I don't really know anything about Dr. Oz. But I do agree with SUSANELAINE about the number of meals. I eat 6 times a day every 3 hours. 3 meals and 3 snacks. All 6 are balanced to my macro nutrient requirements and I seldom ever have cravings. Also my 1st meal is within an hour of waking up.

This is a Dr. Oz suggestion to eliminate cravings fro sweets and it works. Eat 3 meals and 2-3 snacks a day, 3 hours apart. Each should include carbs, essential fats (nuts, avocado, olive oil, for example) and protein.

When I get in a rut, I find it helps to mix things up. I'll try a new exercise. I try new recipes often. Sometimes it helps a lot of mix up your calories, for example alternate between higher end of your range and lower end of your range.

ask yourself what motivated you from the start? what will happen if you don't continue? How will you feel? Set realistic goals that can be attainable. Don't think about how much more you have to lose. Think of it as a new lease on life, a healthy lifestyle not a chore.

I was at the same place you were once after losing 100+ , after losing just about half I wanted to give up but I realized I deserved better for myself. I wanted to live a full life just like everyone else feel good, look my best and I wanted to avoid having health issues later on in life.

set a short term goal. 50lbs is great, but you still have 3/5 of your original loss to go. and that can seem overwhelming. you've already done all this work, taken all this time, and you're not even halfway there yet. so don't focus on the big picture. focus on the next 5-10lbs or set some other small goal like walking a 5k or learning to salsa dance. the idea is to have something that can be within your reach in 4-6 weeks. keep those short, attainable goals in your sights and that can help you break through a funk. also, find something sweet that's good for you in the evenings. your local grocery store has at least five feet of shelf space dedicated to flavored yogurts. that and a little fruit and granola can be sweet, but still good for you. consider making a sorbet with frozen berries or a banana. dip some fruit in chocolate. bake an apple and add a nut and oat topping [it's fine to use a little brown sugar here]. poach some pears in brandy. have some watermelon with balsamic glaze and a maybe a little mint chiffonade. i've been very into a slice of homemade brown bread and either a little jam or lemon curd as an after dinner treat. if you're a fan of artificial sweeteners south beach seems to have a ton of recipes based on ricotta, artificial sweetener and some other flavoring. if you have access to decent fresh tomatoes perhaps a caprese salad might be a nice snack.imo the biggest issue with coffee isn't the caffeine, it's anything that you put in your coffee besides coffee. so the sugar, cream or creamer is the problem. in which case cutting those add-ins out or at least bringing the quantity down can help. if you just don't want to, try figuring out the why. so don't let yourself say, no, i don't want to, make sure you justify to yourself why you're not wanting to do what you need to do. it's a lot easier to address a concrete problem. so if it's too much effort, find a way to make it easier for yourself. instead of planning out menus all the time, copy recipes that you like and fit your ranges onto index cards and file them according to meals. so instead of searching about for what to have for breakfast this week, you could pull seven cards from your breakfast division and your meal planning is already done because you already did all the work. finding a buddy to exercise with can help. it's a lot easier to not want to disappoint the person you know who is waiting for you and get the walk in. finding a class that you like can also help, all the more so if you're cheap and you buy a series for it. you don't want to waste your money so you have to go.

I generally agree with Kastra's advice, however, I would not put the measuring tools away. It is very easy to lose your way when you're not measuring your progess. Russell has great advice below as well. Be grateful that the first 50lbs were easy and use that as motivation to move forward.

Simone

"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." - John Quincy Adams

No matter how slow you go, you're still lapping everyone on the couch! Source: unknown

First of all, I definitely want to “second” the idea of searching for new recipes. Sometimes one of the most depressing things I see whenever there is a story about weight loss is how the person lost it by eating “Steamed chicken with a green salad.” Ugh, how boring.

I also wonder if perhaps you have started eating sugary sweets and drinking coffee again because you were feeling deprived before. Personally, I think if you aren’t having issues with sleeping or blood pressure or anxiety related to coffee, I don’t see a problem with it! There are plenty of studies that show it’s not bad for people in general (unless of course your specific health issues prevent you). I suppose if you are also loading it up with sugar and milk that might be a problem, but you can always try cutting back on those add-ins. For sweets, maybe try higher quality versions of whatever you are eating. I used to eat 100 calorie packs and skinny cow candy because it was so low calorie.. but then I realized it just made me want MORE because it’s not satisfying for me. So now, I go with dark chocolate or something naturally high in fiber/protein/a little fat.

I would also like to suggest being kind to yourself. Evaluate your life right now. I was able to keep 60 pounds off for 6 years, until life threw some crap at me. I was on a medication that made me lethargic and made me crave carbs ALL THE TIME. I just never wanted to do anything. It took me a long time to realize that it wasn’t really my fault. I was pissed at myself, too, for gaining back 40 pounds, but I realized that with everything working against me, I needed to cut myself some slack.. and I finally feel like I’m back in a place where I can focus on my health again.

It’s okay to not be motivated 100% of the time. Just make the best decisions you can make for yourself now. Maybe stop thinking about what you can’t do, stop focusing on what you “shouldn’t” be doing, and think about what you CAN do. And make it as easy on yourself as possible to do the right stuff. If you always keep apples around and don’t have sugary stuff around, maybe that would make it easier to avoid night sweets.

I'm new here but not new to weight loss. Like you, I've already lost around 50 pounds (225 to 173) and still have a ways to go (another ~40 to 50). I'm mainly here because, like you, I ran into a stalemate with motivation. Here are a few things I did and learned were of use (or not, as the case may be) to get myself invested again:

1) Put the scale away except for maybe once a month. That evil piece of machinery (or whatever it is) is my bane. I might walk up to it feeling awesome, but stepping onto it and seeing a smaller and smaller number just stopped being so exciting. Maybe because weight loss has slowed as I've reduced myself. Likewise, I'm reducing how often I take my measurements. I used to do it almost daily...and initially, inches just seemed to melt but that has also slowed and it's defeating seeing the same number day after day.

2) Make a life goal that has nothing to do with measurements. For instance, I want to someday be fit enough and comfortable enough with my own health to run a marathon (not a 5K or half, and not walking). That's going to take a lot more getting in shape than where I'm at now, so no matter what that dumb scale or measuring tape says, or what size I am (I've seen some people run them that were probably not their ideal weight but they were fit!)...I still have a lot of work to do.

3) Try new foods and recipes. There are likely some veggies or fruits you still haven't sampled. Give them a shot. I had to drop coffee also - I like way too much sugar and cream in it for it to fit in a reasonable calorie budget - and found my morning (and afternoon and evening) pleasure by going nuts in the tea section of the store. Over a few weeks while I was weaning out coffee, I think I bought 20 or so different flavors and varieties until I settled on Starbucks breakfast tea and Yogi bedtime herbal tea as my go-to drinks, then some Starbucks Chai blend for the occasional treat. I like each with 2 tsp of sugar (just 32 calories) which is a lot less than I put in coffee in addition to the vanilla creamer I tossed on top.

4) If Sparkpeople is no longer moving you, find something that does. Sorry if that offends someone, but sometimes something different is just what is needed. I came to Spark for that change, but if you need a change of scenery, find someplace that gets you pumped again. That could just mean joining new groups or challenges or something else within the site, but if you've experimented and still feel like it's an obligation and not an exciting journey, do what you have to do to take care of you.

5) Get new exercise equipment or change up your routine to something entirely different from what you normally do. Even if it's not fun...it might bring back enjoyment and reward from your current go-to routine.

Basically...start changing things until things click again and you find joy in what you're doing. As with anything in life...when you fall in a rut, do something to get out of it. The same goes for this lifestyle change. When you get sick and tired of the same old clothes, you go get new clothes, right?

I go back to the basics. Why am I doing what I'm doing? What do I not want to lose in terms of progress? What did I want to do that I haven't yet?

When I was stuck, I cleaned out my cabinets and mixed up my routine. Added new exercises, tried new recipes and the like. Set new smaller goals that I could get excited about (5k and now half marathon, ST goals, food trying things) and then some long term goals. Think about what you can accomplish short term - exercise minutes this week, servings of fruits and veggies each day, hitting your protein goal, days without sweets, etc. Having smaller goals to meet instead of thinking long term is so much easier mentally and better for my well being. Take it day to day.

Why are you losing weight? Is being lighter/healthier the goal. New clothes can be a decent motivator, as well as looking good,but unless you have a life-threatening health condition, I find it not to be a great motivator. Sure, healthy sounds great, but so does the macaroni and cheese, and a banana split, and if I am healthy today, how motivated am I to not eat that delicious food?

Your goals should be what you do after losing the weight, not losing the weight itself. I have a goal of canoeing this summer ( one of many goals ). I tried in my 20, but we were too fat.. over the weight limit for the boat...lol. Didn't end up well. I live on a river, so I want to be able to explore it.

Think of things that you do, and why you stick to them. If you decided to take a vacation to Disney World in Orlando, and were driving, you would need a map, a car, some food/lodging if more than a day away. These would all be part of getting you there. Still, do you get excited about packing the car, or mapping the route? No.. you are excited about the destination.

Most of us have goals of reaching X amount of weight, but then what? Why are we losing the weight? There is not destination, so no motivation. Make a list of what you want to accomplish when you get to goal weight. For me, it was things as simple as doing pull-ups, and canoeing on a river.

The reason you should want to lose weight, is to live a happier healthier life. If I could wave a magic wand today, and make you 150, what would you do? Exactly what you plan to today? I hope not. I enjoy walking along the river, and stopping to feed the ducks, and it is a 4 mile walk... 1.2 miles to the bridge over the river. I couldn't do that before. I was stuck.. at home.

What do you want to do that you can't, but will be able to when you lose another 30, 50, or 80 lbs.? THAT is your motivation, not a number on a scale.

"We can't solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them "

I seem to just be going through the motions. I barely exercise and I come to Sparkspeople every day along with my challenge group. I really am not sticking to my lifestyle food lists like I should. I am drinking coffee again and eating sugary sweets at night.

I have lost 50 pounds, but just seem to be stuck right now. I haven't gone over the top, but I can't seem to find the motivation that I had before.

I am not sure what to do to make myself want this again. I think the first 50 pounds came off too easy and now I am having to struggle to get the last 75 pounds off. I can't see what I have accomplished so far so the distance to the goal seems to be so far away.

I am re-reading my lifestyle books, looking for the motivation. I am looking here in hopes of finding it. I keep telling myself if I just check in and keep working then my motivation will come back.

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